4. What are the uses/limits of the Internet in terms of politics and/or democracy? Should we rethink the nature of the political? What happens to the nation/state in the age of networks that have the potential to span the whole planet? What has happened to the idea of "community" in the age of networked digital media? Discuss with an example.
The term ‘politics’ is defined as ‘social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power’. (WordNet 2006) A politician, who gains the peoples interest and support, ultimately gains this power and authority. The Internet is very influential when it comes to politics and the fate of the world, for reasons that will be explored throughout the essay. But now that the concept of politics has been discussed, what is the Internet? "The Internet is a network of networks (including servers, mainframes, personal computers and other devices using computer-mediated communications) that link people around the world into an information-sharing system". (1501HUM 2009, Lecture Two)
The Internet has been a useful tool in the most recent years of democracy’s growing place within the world of politics. Democracy is a system of government with a key element:
* "The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life". (E-Democracy 1994)
This element of democracy provides the foundation in terms of how E-democracy initiated.
E-Democracy means electronic democracy and 'represents the use of information and communication technologies and strategies by democratic actors within political and governance processes of local communities, nations and on the international stage’. (Pieterse. 2002, p.9) It is argued by Jan Pieterse that the new communications networks favour democratic nations. "These systems depend on the ability to exchange information, to swap data, and to promote a free flow of information around the network” (Pieterse. 2002, p.10). This symbolizes what democracy, fundamentally is; and enables people to relate their own knowledge and situations with others from all different backgrounds and societies around the world.
The Internet has changed the nature of politics, just as television had a significant effect on politics during the sixties. John F. Kennedy used television in 1961 in much the same way as Barack Obama made use of the Internet during the precedential election in 2008. Mr Kennedy’s charisma was demonstrated through the television to large numbers. ‘Millions watched his television debates with the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon’ (The Presidents 2002) and Barack Obama’s charismatic and confident persona was not only displayed on television, but the more affordable, and highly accessible Internet. YouTube presented countless opportunities for the advertisement of Obama’s campaign. “The campaign’s official stuff they created for YouTube was watched for 14.5 million hours. To buy 14.5 million hours on broadcast TV is $47 million.” (New York Times 2008) It is believed that if it weren’t for these communication mediums, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Obama would never have been elected. Thus, the powerful influence communication technologies have in the world of politics is too important not to be embraced by the politicians of today and of course, the politicians of tomorrow.
The Internet benefits the politicians themselves, ultimately by presenting beneficial opportunities to the citizens. ‘The media (both traditional and the Internet) can help increase voter participation by not only providing citizens with information to make informed voting decisions, but by stimulating interest in elections.’ (Tolbert & McNeal, 2003, p.177) The I-Internet is a good example of this. Surveys of voters new to Internet elections in Australia and Western Europe "indicate that voters prefer voting online to any other method including on-site voting machines" (Why I-Voting? 2007)
In the age of networks that have the potential to span the whole planet, the effects on nations are significant. They are all the more significant in the well-developed countries that have easy access to the information provided by the networks. The Republic of China has its obvious limitations when it comes to information accessible to the citizens, but these limitations are gradually decreasing over time. “Studies of Chinese mass media have consistently revealed a tendency toward the loosening of political control” (Yang. 2003, p. 407) This demonstrates the inevitable impact the internet is having on the world. Even in the most politically restricted countries, the force accompanying the Internet, cannot be ignored.
The age of networked digital media is here and the idea of ‘community’ in many societies is rapidly changing. The increasingly easy and affordable access with communication technologies is the key factor to this change. The youth of today are not so much playing with marbles on the street with their friends from across the road, but are in their rooms, on their computers; with the opportunity to still be apart of a community.
Community is considered a positive thing "because its members cooperate; they help one another. Cooperation presupposes effective communication, which is said to be another characteristic of community” (Tuan. 2002, p. 307)
This sense of community may come in the form of social networks such as Facebook, Myspace, twitter and personal blogs etc. These new online communities allow the experience of increased social networking. The youth in particular, are gaining skills through these network communities, and undoubtedly painting the face of what politics will be in the future. Kids today "interact with multiple forms of nontraditional texts and different sources of information, access popular culture and mass media, and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives through the use of new technologies". (Lawrence, McNeal & Yildiz. 2009, p. 485)
One of the most important effects that new communication technologies offer is the increased awareness and acceptance of different cultures. Living in a global world, (another impact of the Internet) It is a necessary step for societies to become communities. Members of a society are often strangers to one another “They either do not communicate or do so with less success” (Tuan. 2002, p.308)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Elect: Universal Access Today, 2007, ‘Everyone counts- Why I-Voting?’, Andrew Dumke, viewed 15 October, 2009
http://www.everyonecounts.com/index.php/why_everyone_counts/why_i-voting
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